Maseru — On Monday 21 May 2018, the Lesotho High Court (sitting as a Constitutional Court), in a unanimous judgment declared the offence of criminal defamation unconstitutional with retrospective effect.
The case of Basildon Peta v Minister of Law, Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights and 2 Others, Constitutional Case No. 11 of 2016, was heard before Hon. Mahase J, Hon. Moiloa J and Hon. Mokhesi AJ on 19 February 2018. The case was brought by Basildon Peta, the owner and publisher of the Lesotho Times. He was charged with the offence of criminal defamation after the Lesotho Times in 2016 published a satirical column (the Scrutator) relating to the then-Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force, Tlali Kamoli.
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